Barça deny Bauza's claims they asked Messi not to join up with Argentina

Barcelona have responded to Argentina's claims that they didn't want Lionel Messi to join up with his national team. 

Messi underwent tests after Sunday's win at Athletic Club which revealed a minor hamstring problem before heading to South America to join up with Argentina. 

His national team coach Edgardo Bauza has since claimed Barça recommended he didn't travel for this week's international break due to the problem. 

Barça director Alber Soler has denied that, though, speaking in a press conference on Thursday. 

He explained: "There's no problem with the Argentina medical team. 

"It's not true that Barça recommended Messi not to join up with Argentina and he did so anyway [against that advice]. 

"Our obligation is to advise the AFA if Messi has a problem and we did, but we did not prohibit him going at any point."